Overview
Within this four-day tour from Kunming to Yuanyang and Jianshui, you’ll find a combination of nature, adventure and culture. You are about to experience the beauty of the protected landscape of the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, and an abundance of ethnic customs.
Then visit Jianshui, a historical town in the center of Yunnan, where you can immerse yourself in Ming and Qing dynasty history and architecture.
Highlights
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Itinerary
Morning
After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive to one of Yunnan’s most famous natural wonders – the Stone Forest.
Stone Forest
The Stone Forest is a massive karst landscape formed over millions of years, where towering stone pillars rise from the earth, resembling a petrified forest. Local legends tell tales of each unique stone formation, and you’ll learn about these from your guide as you wander through this surreal landscape.
14:00 Stone Forest – Yuangyang
Drive to Yuanyang Scenic Area, one of Yunnan’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Qingkou Village
Yuanyang is filled with rice terraces spread between several villages. We will first visit Qingkou Village, tucked away in a valley. Qingkou is a typical Hani ethnic minority hamlet, where the Hani locals have been practicing their agriculture in balance with nature for thousands of years. Traditional country life still exists in this place where forest, village, watering systems and fields create a unique ecosystem.
Bada Rice Terraces
We then visit Bada Rice Terraces, the largest of all the rice terraces in the Yuanyang area, which covers the entire valley like a colorful carpet.
Laohuzui
In the evening, we’ll head to the rice terraces at Laohuzui, which translates as ‘Tiger Mouth’. A fierce name that reflects the magnificence of the terraced valley, with kaleidoscopic reflections on the iridescent water during sunset. Definitely a stop for photographers, but also for anyone who wants to experience this magical vista without filters.
Pick-up time:
Around 09:00
Drop-off time:
Around 19:00, depending on the season
Meals
Breakfast
Altitude
1500 m – 2000 m
Traveltime
3.5 hrs (360 km)
Additional information
- Best explored on foot due to cobblestone streets and limited vehicle access
- Wear comfortable walking shoes: surfaces can be uneven and slightly slippery
Morning
In the twilight hours you’ll drive to Duoyishu Village. Here, you will witness a golden sunrise over the mountains, casting pink and azure light on the shimmering water of the rice paddies.
Sheng Village
You may visit Sheng Village, an important trade center where the locals come to trade wares. Every five days there’s a bustling market where you can find Hani and Yi minorities, many of them dressed in their traditional clothing. You can mingle while they sell their wares from woven baskets offering fruit, homemade alcohol, livestock and fresh meat.
Afternoon
Later in the afternoon we will ride to Xinjie Town, where we will visit Quanfuzhuang Village. This village has one of the most beautiful terraces in the region, and if you like you can hike along the narrow walls dividing the paddies.
Pick-up time:
Around 5:00-6:00, depending on the season
Drop-off time:
16:00-17:00
Meals
Breakfast
Altitude
1900 m – 2100 m
Traveltime
1.5 hrs (40 km)
Additional information
- Best explored on foot due to cobblestone streets and limited vehicle access
- Wear comfortable walking shoes: surfaces can be uneven and slightly slippery
Morning
Drive to Jianshui.
Tuanshan Village
The first stop is at Tuanshan Village, a small architectural gem. If you wonder how the Chinese lived centuries ago, this Qing-dynasty village is the place to visit. It was founded in the late 14th century, but most of the present buildings were built in the late 19th century. Villagers built grand houses with courtyards with money earned from trade facilitated by the Yunnan-Vietnam railroad.
Jianshui ancient town
We continue our way to Jianshui ancient town, where much of the original Ming dynasty (1368-1644) architecture has been preserved. One of these intact historical buildings is the impressive Chaoyang Tower, the only city gate to have survived wars, weather and time.
Zhu Family Garden
The most famous attraction in Jianshui is the Zhu Family Garden. This 20.000 m2 private complex was built over 30 years in the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911) by the influential Zhu brothers. It is impressive not only in size but also in historical importance. The brothers earned their wealth by trading every possible commodity from tin to opium until they fell victim to the political chaos that ensued when the Qing dynasty ended in 1911.
Pick-up time
Around 09:00
Drop-off time
17:00 – 18:00
Meals
Breakfast
Altitude
1500 m – 2000 m
Traveltime
1 hrs (100 km)
Additional information
- Wear comfortable walking shoes: surfaces can be uneven and slippery
Morning
After breakfast, visit a local tofu workshop. Jianshui tofu is unique as it is produced with local spring water from the ancient wells that you see around the town. Learn about the process of producing tofu in the traditional way, and try making your own.
Confucius Temple
Visit the Confucius Temple, which is the second largest in China. Built in 1285 and well preserved, this temple is an architectural and cultural relic.
Jianshui – Kunming
Drive back to Kunming.
Kunming
Visit Green Lake Park, an urban oasis where locals gather to dance, sing, and practice Tai Chi. The willow-lined paths and pavilions bridging the water create a serene atmosphere, offering a glimpse into the city’s leisurely pace of life.
Kunming Old Street
Stroll through the restored Kunming Old Street, where you can pick up some souvenirs.
Pick-up time
Around 09:00
Drop-off time
Around 17:00
Meals
Breakfast
Altitude
2000 m
Traveltime
2 hrs (190 km)
Accomodation
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Inclusions & Exclusions
- 3 nights of economy, comfort, superior or luxury accommodation, shared room with breakfast
- Transportation: gas, tolls, parking fees and any additional pick-ups and drop-offs
- Local experienced English-speaking tour guides
- Meals as listed in the itinerary: 3 breakfasts
- 1 half-liter bottles of drinking water per person per day
- Entrance tickets to the attractions listed
- Supplement for the meals for the tour guide and driver
- 24/7 English-speaking customer service
- Government taxes
- Chinese visa
- International and domestic flights
- Meals not listed in the program (lunch, dinner)
- Dynamic Yunnan Show discount tickets (please mention which category you prefer if you are interested: VVIP = USD 100, VIP = USD 77, Luxury = USD 59, Standard = USD 44, Budget = USD 33)
- Additional days caused by unexpected nature disasters, for instance, land slides or flooding.
- Single room supplement if the guest requests a private room in the hotel (If you prefer a private room or if there is no one else in your group to share with, a single room supplement will apply.
- Possible surcharges for upgrades from standard twin-bed rooms to double-bed rooms
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips for drivers and guides (highly appreciated but not requested)
- Anything not listed in inclusions
Frequently asked questions
The terraces are spectacular year-round, however, the most famous period is November to April, when the fields are flooded and mirror the skies.
Sunrise is around 5:00-6:00 and sunset around 19:00-20:00, depending on the season.
In Yuanyang, you’ll walk along viewing platforms and short village trails. In Jianshui, walking is on flat stone streets. The overall tour involves moderate walking, including cobblestone lanes, monasteries, and park paths. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Important information
- Single Supplement. The price listed is for two people sharing one room. If you require a private room or if there is no one else in the group to share a room with, a single room supplement will apply. The single supplement fee is outlined in our price list.
- Driver and guide working hours. The daily working time for driver and tour guide during this tour is maximum 10 hours per day. Overtime working hours will be charged extra.
- Tipping drivers and tour guides is custom in China. We recommend giving 50-80 RMB (7 – 10 USD) per day to the driver and 80-130 RMB (10 – 15 USD) per day to your tour guide.
- Weather. During the summer months (June to September) Yunnan has a rainy season. It won’t be raining 24/7, but we recommend bringing a small umbrella that fits in a backpack.
- Accommodation. The hotels in the itinerary are the recommended hotels, if they are fully booked during your travel period, we will book alternative hotels in the same price/quality range. We book different hotels on request too, but a surcharge might be needed.
- Children & Accommodation. Please note that except for luxury hotels, in many hotels family rooms only have space for one child, but it could be possible to book an extra mattress in some hotels. Please contact us for more information when travelling with a family.
- Meals. Lunches at authentic, quality local restaurants are not included. Your guide can recommend quality authentic places for you. If you have preferences or dietary requirements such as vegetarian, halal, kosher, vegan or gluten-free, please tell your tour guide in advance. Your tour guide will normally not order spicy food or meat/fish with bones unless asked for.
